The best bath towels

When it comes to everyday comfort, few household items matter as much as your bath towel. The best bath towels don't just feel luxurious, they also excel in absorbency, dry efficiently, and hold up to repeated use over time. The right high-quality bath towel should elevate your daily hygiene routine.

In our search for the best bath towels on the market, we tested a wide range of styles based on softness, absorbency, dry time, durability, and overall comfort. After real-world use and repeated washing, we selected standouts that deliver on both performance and feel.

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Our top picks for bath towels

Best overall: Frontgate Resort Collection - See at Frontgate

Best budget: Threshold Total Fresh Antimicrobial Towel - See at Target

Best bundle: Quince Ultra Plush Bath Towel Bundle - See at Quince

Softest: Brooklinen Super Plush Turkish Cotton - See at Brooklinen

Best bath sheet: Riley Home Spa Towel - See at Riley Home

Best quick-dry: Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Quick-Dry Towel - See at Pottery Barn

Best waffle: Brooklinen DreamWeave Waffle Towel - See at Brooklinen

Best Turkish: Coyuchi Mediterranean Organic Towel - See at Coyuchi

Best for personalization: Weezie Signature Bath Towel - See at Weezie

Best overall

This towel delivers on every metric. The Frontgate Resort Collection towel delivered across every metric that matters in real-world use: comfort, absorbency, durability, and value. Made from 100% fine-combed, long-staple Turkish cotton with a plush 700 GSM weight, it strikes a balance between indulgent softness and practical performance. As an absorbent bath towel, it excelled at quickly soaking up water without feeling heavy or waterlogged.

The feel is genuinely luxurious. This was the softest towel we tested, hands down, with a thick, cushy feel that still drapes well around the body, making it the most enjoyable to use. Despite its plushness, it also landed among the fastest air-drying towels in its category — an important distinction for daily use and shared bathrooms.

It holds up beautifully over time. After repeated washing and drying, the towel showed only average shrinking and no noticeable fading, pilling, or loss of softness. It still feels just as plush and smooth as it did on day one, which isn't always a given with thicker towels. The Oeko-Tex certification also provides peace of mind regarding safety and quality.

Thoughtful details further elevate the experience. Frontgate offers an impressive 28 colors, multiple coordinating sizes (including a generously sized bath sheet). Most impressively, the brand offers free monogramming, making this one of the coolest towels to personalize or build into a matching set. The embroidery (choose from 15 three-letter styles and 33 thread colors) sits on the thick, 5-inch dobby border that gives the towel a more upscale look and helps prevent fraying. Considering the quality, size, and longevity, the $50 price feels reasonable.

Best budget

The price is unbeatable. For $8 to $14 (depending on the size), you can't beat the value of Target's Threshold antimicrobial towel. While it doesn't boast the same hefty weight as other towels in this guide (Target vaguely lists the GSM as 550-800), it's still incredibly soft and decently absorbent. You can choose from 11 different colors and several sizes to find the best option for your bathroom.

It has a straightforward, no-frills design. Expect your standard towel design: 100% cotton, terry construction, and a textured border. It does have a convenient hanging loop, which we appreciate. It's not entirely clear what, if anything, makes this towel antimicrobial. It is, however, Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certified, meaning it has been independently tested for more than 100 harmful chemical substances.

It's proven durable after years of testing. I've had three of these towels for almost seven years, and they've held up well. I have noticed some fraying, but they're still plenty soft and absorbent. If you're looking for colorful, comfortable towels at an affordable price point, these are the ones to buy.

Best bundle

The high-quality set delivers serious value. Buying a towel bundle simplifies the process of outfitting your space: everything matches and typically costs less than purchasing pieces individually. Our favorite towel bundle offers the best combination of quality, durability, and price we've seen in a coordinated set. This Quince set includes two bath towels, two hand towels, and two washcloths. There's also a bath sheet bundle, too, if you prefer an oversize option. During testing, we found this set consistently performed like a premium option while costing far less than comparable plush bath towel collections.

The towels are warm, plush, and reliably absorbent. Made from 100% long-staple Turkish cotton with a substantial 800 GSM weight, these towels feel thick, cozy, and comforting without being stiff. It soaks up water quickly and efficiently after showers, making it ideal for everyday use. They're also a little larger than your standard towel size, which is even more noticeable when comparing them to the hand towel. They can take a little longer to dry, but we've never noticed any odors or mustiness.

After two years of regular use, we're still impressed. The towels have held up well, with no fraying, thinning, or discoloration. They've maintained their softness and structure over time, which is something we don't always see at this price point. While the color selection is more limited, the overall quality-to-cost ratio is hard to beat.

Softest

Indulge in cloud-like softness. If a plush, cushy towel is what you're looking for, we recommend the Brooklinen Super Plush towel. It has an ultra-thick, velvety feel that's immediately noticeable the moment you touch it. Recently revamped, Brooklinen's 2.0 version of is made from 100% Aegean Turkish cotton with a hefty 770 GSM weight. It's the kind of towel that feels more like a spa upgrade than an everyday essential. The fabric on this updated version feels even softer than before, with a smooth, cushiony texture that makes it one of the most indulgent, heavyweight towels we tried.

It offers exceptional absorbency. They soaked up water quickly and thoroughly after showers and baths. That density, however, comes at a cost: It was among the slowest to dry. Brooklinen actually decreased the GSM from 820 GSM to 770 GSM, but we found the change didn't improve how quickly they dried, which was a similar pain point we had. However, for those who prioritize softness and absorption over fast turnaround time, that's a worthwhile compromise.

Some welcome new design changes. Brooklinen added a hanging loop, which is convenient touch that feels sturdy enough to hold up to everyday use. They come in eight solid and six striped designs plus several seasonal hues, along with an extensive range of coordinating pieces, from bath sheets to oversized bath mats. Other notable changes to the towel include a redesign of the dobby border, which help towels keep their shape. The older version had a trio of thin trim dobby lines, while the the new has a single flat wide border, that Brooklinen describes as more modern. Interestingly, the stripe sets skip the dobby altogether. Brooklinen continues to offer its towels in sets of two, which may not suit every budget.

These towels holds shape and softness over time. I've used and loved Brooklinen sheets for years, so I was excited to see if their towel would match the quality I've come to rely on — and it did. After repeated washing and drying, the towel showed moderate, balanced shrinkage but retained its signature plushness without pilling or thinning.

Best bath sheet

Generous dimensions give ample full-body coverage.Riley's bath sheet provides coverage and comfort that outpace the other sheets we tested. Measuring 40" x 70", this oversized towel is ideal for taller individuals or anyone who wants a more indulgent experience. It wraps around the body with ease, though those with smaller builds may find it a bit bulky. Its rounded edges give a refined, high-end look, while the convenient hanger loop makes drying and storage simple.

Outstanding shrink-resistance keeps it large. One of the biggest advantages is its ability to maintain its XL size over time. Made from 100% Egyptian fine-combed, long-staple cotton and Oeko-Tex certified, it shrunk only about 1.5% in our testing, far below the typical 5—7% shrinkage seen in plush towels. This means the sheet retains its original dimensions even after repeated washings.

It's plush and absorbent, though slow to dry. While nicely dense and highly absorbent, this towel takes longer to dry than lighter towels, which is typical for XL bath towels.

Best quick-dry

Velvety softness meets impressive absorbency. Made from 100% organic long-staple Turkish cotton at 550 GSM, Pottery Barn's Hydrocotton towel feels plush and substantial without feeling overly heavy. In our trials, it absorbed water almost instantly, ranking as the fastest-drying towel while still feeling soft and comfortable.

It's fast-drying without sacrificing comfort. While it's not the plushest towel we tested, the Hydrocotton strikes a smart balance between softness and functionality. Its 550 GSM weight allows it to dry moderately quickly, making it ideal for shared bathrooms or daily use where quick turnaround matters. It also comes in 18 colors, multiple coordinating sizes, and can be monogrammed for an additional fee, giving it a stylish, personalized touch.

It's pretty durable. After repeated laundering, the towel maintained its thick, soft texture with no fabric wear or lint issues, which is not always the case for quick-dry cotton. We did notice moderate shrinkage and some color fading, particularly in darker shades like gray, but the overall feel and absorbency remained excellent.

Best waffle

It's the softest waffle towel we tested.Brooklinen's version of a waffle towel stands out for its unmatched combination of softness, quick-drying performance, and thoughtful design. The 100% Turkish cotton Oeko-Tex certified fabric is comfier than that of any other waffle towel we tested.

It also dried faster than the other waffle weaves. While its absorbency is slightly lower than thicker cotton towels, it still soaks up efficiently enough for everyday use.

Brooklinen offers versatile sizing. As the only waffle towel on our list that comes in a bath sheet size in addition to the towel size, it allows for greater flexibility among a variety of body sizes. Other coordinating pieces — including hand towels, washcloths, and bath mats — allow you to build a cohesive bathroom set in 10 colors. Brooklinen offers its waffle towels in five mainstay colors, with several seasonal colors as well. While on trend, these seasonal colors are limited-edition and can be difficult to replace or add to over time. Overstock seasonal colors can also be found heavily marked down during Brooklinen's clearance sales from time to time.

Durability comes with minor caveats. After repeated washing, we noticed some width shrinkage, which is typical for lightweight waffle weaves, but the softness and overall quality remained impressive. The set-only packaging (sold in twos) may not suit everyone.

Best Turkish

A soft, airy feel sets this Turkish towel apart.Coyuchi's Mediterranean Organic towel combines soft, smooth fabric with fast-drying performance. Turkish (also known as Hammam or Fouta) towels are characterized by their traditional flat weave and knotted fringes. Coyuchi's Mediterranean towel is a thoughtful and beautiful interpretation made from 100% organic cotton at 320 GSM and GOTS certified. It feels light and airy while maintaining a refined, high-quality look. This towel is far from plush or waffle-style coziness, but its smooth texture makes it comfortable against the skin, and the elegant fringe holds up surprisingly well after repeated washes.

Super fast drying makes it ideal for travel. It dried more quickly than any other towel we tried, making it perfect for hot, humid environments or travelers who need packable, fast-drying towels. While its absorbency is lower than that of thicker bath towels, it's sufficient for everyday use when drying speed is a priority.

There's only minimal shrinkage. Over multiple washes and dryer cycles, the weave tightened slightly, but the towel maintained its shape, softness, and polished appearance. Coyuchi's attention to quality ensures that even after regular use, this towel still looks elegant and feels well-made.

Best for personalization

Monograms, embroidery, or applique make this towel uniquely yours. Weezie offers monogramming, embroidery, or applique for an additional $15–$30 per item, allowing you to create a truly customized set. While personalization can add a slight lead time, it makes a towel totally personalized. Coordinating pieces like bath sheets, hand towels, and washcloths round out your bundle.

Elegant details and thoughtful features further elevate the experience. Made from 100% long-staple cotton and Oeko-Tex certified, the Weezie towel feels smooth and indulgent against the skin, delivering a high-end bath experience. Choose from scalloped edges or contrast piping, both of which contribute to Weezie’s refined yet playful look. Hanging loops make it easier to air-dry and help maintain its softness between washes.

The softness and quality hold up over time. In testing, the towel retained its plush texture without pilling or thinning. It did attract lint, however, which took some effort to remove. Its luxurious feel and durability justify the premium price, particularly for those seeking a personalized, high-quality absorbent bath towel that also adds a decorative touch to the bathroom.

What else we tested

• Kassatex Atelier: This 800 GSM towel, crafted from 100% cotton, was incredibly soft, plush, and luxurious-feeling to the touch. We appreciate the option to add a monogram for an extra $10, as well as the convenient hanger loop. However, it frayed a bit with repeated washing.
• Parachute Classic Turkish Cotton: In terms of performance, this towel finished right behind Brooklinen's Super Plush with just slightly less softness and durability. The color selection is also a bit thin.
• Quince Ribbed Quick Dry: This is our runner-up as a fast-drying towel to the Hydrocotton. It's an excellent size for full-body coverage, but it lacks the luxurious feel of the Hydrocotton. Over a dozen washes, it does lose some softness, but the materials and light gray color held up really well.
• Boll & Branch Plush: An overall solid 100% organic cotton towel with strong absorbency, moderate shrinkage, and moderate dry time. Still, it wasn't quite as soft and luxurious-feeling as our other top picks.
• Parachute Waffle: Highly soft and absorbent for a waffle towel, Parachute's 100% Turkish cotton version shrunk substantially in the wash. Ultimately, it lacked full-body coverage for most adults, though it'd be a great option for children.
• Slowtide Guild Waffle: Quick-drying and durable, this 350 GSM towel lacked the immediate softness of Brooklinen's waffle towel.
• Onsen Supima Waffle: This pre-washed pick was highly absorbent and quick-drying; however, it shrank substantially with repeated washing. It's more expensive than other similar picks that performed comparatively.
• Nossara Waffle: Though it had good absorbency and a moderate dry time, Nossara's waffle towel experienced significant shrinkage with repeated washings. It was also the least soft towel we tested, and even after multiple washes, it failed to soften to a level comparable to our top choices.

What to look for in a bath towel

We spoke with Jeremy Brown, the general manager at the Wyndham Grand Fallsview Hotel who holds an MBA in hospitality and tourism management and has over 25 years of hospitality experience, and Barbara Stern, a UK-based textile and bedding expert at Ottoman Textiles with over 20 years of industry experience, for their insights.

Materials and Construction

Our favorite bath towels are all made from cotton, but the types of cotton used differ, which affects the texture of your towel. Here are some common terms to look out for:

• Turkish cotton: According to Brown, it's ideal for high-turnover use (such as hotels or daily use in families) because it delivers softness with a faster drying rate. Turkish cotton gets more absorbent with age, added Stern.
• Egyptian cotton and Pima/Supima cotton: "Egyptian and Supima/Pima cottons are considered luxury cottons with extra-long fibers," said Brown. "These are designed to deliver the softest hand feel, high absorbency, and the longest lifespan." Pima and Supima cotton are the same thing (Supima is the trademark name) and refer to United States-sourced cotton, whereas Egyptian cotton is from Egypt.
• Microfiber/bamboo/blends: "Bamboo or blended fabrics can be smooth and eco-appealing, but their behavior greatly differs depending on processing and blending methods," noted Stern. "Microfiber [towels] dry super-fast but are not as skin-friendly."

The weave of a towel refers to how the fibers and loops are constructed and interlaced, which determines its texture and structure. This construction directly affects how absorbent, soft, durable, and quick-drying the towel is, as well as how it feels against the skin.

• Terry: A terry weave is identified by uncut loops of yarn on one or both sides of the fabric. "Terry-style towels maximize absorbency and plushness but don't dry as quickly. This makes them ideal for baths and pools," explained Brown. "[They] are what we often associate with a classic bath towel."
• Waffle: "Waffle weaves have a surface with texture that facilitates airflow to the point that they are very fast in drying, even lighter, and thus the choice for humid bathrooms or traveling," said Stern.
• Flat-woven: "Flat-woven towels are not very thick and absorbent, but they dry very quickly and are easy to store," said Stern. Lightweight and packable, they're great for traveling with, especially when luggage real estate is tight.

Weight & GSM (Grams per Square Meter)

A towel's weight (measured in GSM) plays a major role in how plush, absorbent, and quick-drying it feels in everyday use. "GSM, or grams per square meter, simply refers to a way of calculating the towel's density and weight," explained Stern. "Towels rated with 600 GSM and higher feel thicker, weightier, and more luxurious, and they usually take in more water but also take a longer time to dry. Towels with lower GSMs are lighter and dry faster, which makes them suitable for a gym, children, or small areas."

Size differences

Towel size isn't just about preference. It directly affects coverage, comfort, and how functional the towel feels after a shower or bath.

• Standard bath towel sizes: According to Brown, standard bath towels are usually around 27 x 52 inches, while typical bath sheets measure 35 x 60+ inches.
• Bath towel vs bath sheet: Bath sheets are larger than bath towels, making them excellent for a luxurious, extra cozy feel. People with larger bodies might get better full-body coverage from a bath sheet than from a bath towel.

Consider jumbo/oversized options if you seek something with more coverage. "Oversized bath towels are best for taller guests, families, or those seeking a more luxurious hotel-level feel," added Brown.

Extra Features

While they may seem like nice-to-have upgrades, features like antimicrobial treatments, certifications, and personalization can meaningfully impact hygiene, durability, and overall satisfaction.

• Monogram/personalization: Monogrammed or otherwise personalized towels give a customized feel, adding an element of luxury. But there's a practical purpose, too: "Monograms can offer hygiene benefits in shared settings by serving as identifiers," said Brown.
• Antimicrobial treatments: Bath towels can be treated with certain finishes or fiber technologies — such as silver ions, zinc compounds, or plant-based additives — designed to inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria, mold, and mildew. "Antimicrobial treatments are advantageous in a humid environment, but the quality of the fiber and proper care are still the main factors in determining the longevity of the product," noted Stern. Of the towels we tested, only the Threshold and Onsen towels were advertised as receiving antimicrobial treatments, though neither brand disclosed what those specific treatments were.
• Certifications (Oeko-Tex, GOTS): Oeko-Tex certification signifies that a textile has been tested for harmful substances and is considered safe for human use at every stage of production. The GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification applies to textiles made with certified organic fibers that meet strict environmental and social criteria throughout the entire supply chain. These certifications "are meaningful to those seeking quality and peace of mind," noted Brown.

How we tested the best bath towels

In our search for the best towel, we tested 15 products and put them through the same tests:

• Feel/softness: We analyzed the feel and softness of each towel before use, after a single use and wash, and again after five washes to see how it changed over time.
• Absorbency: To determine absorbency, we poured a standardized amount of water over each towel and recorded how quickly it absorbed the moisture. We weighed each dry towel before fully submerging it in water. After 30 seconds of a drip-dry cycle, we weighed each towel again to see how much water it had absorbed.
• Dry time: Wetimed how long each towel took to dry completely when hung normally on a towel bar.
• Durability: Each towel was washed five times, after which we measured any shrinkage and noted any fraying, pilling, loose threads, or color fading.
• Shrinkage: Shrinkage was assessed by comparing pre-wash length and width measurements to the towel's measurements after five washes. A shrinkage percentage was calculated for each towel based on the difference. The average shrinkage for plush styles was between 5 and 7% while some waffle styles shrunk by as much as 20%.
• Odor Retention: Each towel was used three times between washes to assess its odor retention and any mustiness.

Bath towel FAQ

What is the difference between bath sheets and bath towels?

A bath towel and a bath sheet differ only based on their size, with sheets being the larger of the two. Standard bath towels measure about 27 x 52 inches, while typical bath sheets are 35 x 60 inches or more. Because they're larger, bath sheets are considered more luxurious. They also serve a practical purpose for people with larger bodies, who may get better coverage with a larger towel. For most people, a standard towel offers full-body coverage, while a bath sheet adds extra coziness.

Keep in mind that the increase in size also means bath sheets are more expensive and take longer to dry than bath towels. Read more in our bath towels vs. bath sheets story.

How often should you wash bath towels?

Experts agree that bath towels should be washed every three to four uses to ensure freshness and minimize bacteria.

What is the best way to care for towels?

"Warm water with a gentle detergent and no fabric softener is the best combination for absorbency because softeners form a layer on the fibers that reduces their ability to take up moisture," advised Stern. "To keep towels nice and fluffy and avoid mildew, make sure they are dried completely, and the dryer is not overloaded."

After washing, they should be dried on low or medium heat. Add a wool dryer ball to help with drying efficiency and soften the fabric. Be sure to clean the lint trap after each use, as towels are prone to shedding. Line drying is an option, too.

What towels do luxury hotels use?

"Luxury hotels typically aim for long-staple cotton terry, a mid-to-high GSM, and towels designed to withstand repeated laundering," said Brown. "Fiber quality and construction need to be prioritized over trends when performance and longevity matter most."

Why do towels stain or become discolored?

There are a couple of possible culprits for stains and discoloration:

• Skincare products that contain benzoyl peroxide can cause discoloration. People who regularly use benzoyl peroxide products may want to consider sticking to white or light-colored towels.
• Using fabric softener or bleach in the washing machine. Even if you don't actively add bleach, leftover bleach in the dispenser can sometimes leak into the current load.

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